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#1881 - Thursday, August 5, 2004 - Editor: Jerry
The Nonduality Salon list began August 12, 1998. The Highlights began June 3, 1999.
That means no Highlights were done to cover August 12, 1998 to June 3, 1999.
The next several issues of the Highlights that I edit will include coverage of that 9 month period. There are about 7000 messages during that time span, of which about 200 were reviewed for this issue. Therefore there could be 20 Highlights issues covering the early days.
I'll call this series
In Nonduality Salon
It is only by the 'words' of
silence
that Nothingness becomes revealed.
It is with this garland of silent words
That I went forth, and thus enjoyed that perfect meeting.
Please understand the meaning of my words,
And thereby satisfy your hunger and your thirst.
Regard yourself as a shining flame
Burning brightly, without name or form.
These words are uttered simply
To open the eyes of your inner Self.
The perfect meeting with the Infinite
Is eternally within ourselves.
The rivers flow surely toward the sea,
but when the final Deluge comes,
Both rivers and sea are submerged.
In the same way, you should devour both 'I' and 'Thou',
For, truly, you are the source of both.
--Jnaneshvar (1271-1296) from the Amritanubhav (The Nectar of Mystical Experience) Contributed by Jerry Katz
A Sufi Prayer
We who know, and do not know
that we know:
Let us become one, whole.
Let us be transformed.
We who have known, but do not know:
Let us once more see.
The beginning of it all.
We who do not wish to know,
But still say that we want to know:
Let us be guided
To safety and to light.
We who do not know,
And know that we do not know:
Let us through this knowledge, know.
We who do not know, but think that we know:
Set us free
From the confusion
Of that ignorance.
He who knows, and knows that he is:
He is wise.
Let him be followed.
By his presence alone man may be transformed.
As with our forebears
So with our successors
So with us
We affirm this undertaking
So let it be.
(a Sufi prayer-anonymous)
Contributed by David Bozzi
Jan Barendrecht
Intrusions,
distractions, disturbances have a negative influence on
passive meditation (being the witness, observing thoughts,
emotions etc.).
Digging out these disturbances might be a more effective approach
for some.
It is a very deep going reflection on the "why am I getting
angry, why am I
disturbed while in a traffic jam, why am I such an automaton to
always react
this way etc." If one "knows" intuitively and
experiences a subtle 'desire'
to be free from these afflictions, the digging out can be
successful.
"Longing" to be free from these afflictions isn't a
desire, as one's true
nature IS free from these afflictions. This "longing"
is a form of
meditation, the form of "as you meditate, so you
become". So one day, while
caught in a traffic jam, one could think: "What can I
do" - the answer comes
"Nothing" and there is only "I AM". Once
afflictions are removed, they never
'intrude' again.
Let's assume the distraction is doing the dishes and you don't
like it. So
if you are the witness, it is the witness of " I don't like
it" and IMO this
isn't a good meditation. The key is to let go the "being the
witness"; pay
full attention so there is only "the dishes being
done". Now where did the
dislike go? The reason why creative work is almost addictive is
that there
is only "something being created"; there is no witness
whatsoever. This is
the natural state; when it shines without attention and its
object, it is
Self. The bliss that remains after having been engaged in
creative work, is
the 'aftertaste' of the bliss of Self.
Sandeep
When the answer comes "Nothing" to "What
can I do in a traffic jam" are you
saying Jan that this is not frustrating for you?
I would suppose ordinarily it would be quite on the contrary.
Because if you are all ready at peace with the answer
"nothing" not just to
a traffic jam but to Life as such then the question as to what
can I do
would not arise in the first place.
The question what can I do, what should I do, arise because I
believe I can
do something about the events in Life
Frustration is not getting your way for what you believe is your
way.
This traffic jam example is very interesting for me as living in
city with a
population of 18 Million, all "satoris" has to perforce
be in the midst of
automobiles.
All my frustrations at not being able to do anything with a
traffic jam
vanished the moment I realised that I do not have to reach
anywhere, I do
not have to "really go" anywhere, I do not have to
"really " reach anywhere.
Then sitting still in the traffic jam or darting here and there
to get ahead
in a break in the traffic jam , both are OK with me.
Jan Barendrecht
"When the
answer comes 'Nothing' to 'What can I do in a traffic
jam' are you saying Jan that this is not frustrating for you?
I would suppose ordinarily it would be quite on the
contrary."
There happen to be exceptions from the ordinary. The example of
the
traffic jam is from more than 30 years ago, when I was an
anti-war activist,
not even knowing the meaning of the word "meditation".
When I came to a
conclusion (eventually after reflecting on something deeply), I
took the
consequences of it immediately. My mind is hard-wired in that
fashion.
Realizing "nothing can be done" meant "do
nothing" for me (unless you call
peacefully waiting "doing"). I always thought human
beings will take the
consequence of their thoughts, if it turns out that the
behavior/action,
resulting from it is compassionate and intelligent; the
"difference" only
being that for some, it takes a little longer... Thank you for
reminding me
of being a reincarnated alien -<[:>)
"Because
if you are all ready at peace with the answer 'nothing'
not just to a traffic jam but to Life as such then the question
as to what can I do
would not arise in the first place."
At present, things differ from 30 years ago. To illustrate:
Tuesday
afternoon I drove to the mountains for a hike. Two policemen
halted my car
and said the road was closed because of a fire in the woods.
Lying was
detected and checked. Then I went back, took a road to a place
where I knew
there would be no police because the hike had to be preceded with
a 400 m
climb. As part of the hike another 600 m was climbed to the top
of a hill
where the rangers are on the lookout for fires. There was no
fire. To
prevent misunderstanding, "I" did not go anywhere; the
body had its
exercise.
Sharlene
We are always on
the path, whether we realize it or not. We were reborn
into to every experience for more learning, I spent hours and
days
looking ofr something I could be apart of......I wanted to be one
of group,
to say I BELIEVE IN ?....This is my path,,,,,,but..nothing felt
right to
me.Most were to limiting,to restricting, to much ritual, to many
whatevers.....I found no group or organization that just taught
awareness
and expansion of self, without restriction or a need to
believe,,,,,,That
just did not leave me anything to belong to,,,,As a result -I
felt more
alone than ever,,,,Then ,,I bought a computer,,,,this opened up a
new
world,,,,I joined the Bridge mailing list,,,met all kinds of
people. Out of
the two hundered or so that were on the list ,,,,there were a
handful that
I felt drawn too,,,,,mostly because of their sense of freedom,
and I could
relate to what each of them were saying,,,,,and though they
taught or spoke in different ways
,,,,,,each one said the same thing,,,,,,They won my heart so to
speak......
When I reached my crash point,,,,they were there ,,,,not to hold
my hand
but to walk beside me as I crawled through the dark period..
I give thanks every day that I was led to them,,, Out of the two
hundred
people , EJ, Sandeep, Lobster, Einar, Bruce , all offered their
wisdom, and
support...I don't idolize them,,,,put them on pedestals,(wouldn't
want them
to fall off ) but I sure do love them . That is all I can offer
them,,,respect and love,,,,and they gave me so much more,, (
emotional
moment here guys-shhh)
I spent alot of my
time on Light Mission reading, learning,,,and trying to
get a grasp on what I felt , or was looking for...It taught me
that all I
wanted was already available to me, by going within, working on
myself, and healing,
Am I there yet? No,,, still having moments of crawling and
throwing
tantrums,,, every so often moments of realizations come through
and it feels
right,,, moments of bliss and moments of connection,,,,,,I
learned to let
of expectations,,,,I try to live in the moment,,,,and to me ,
thats the big
lesson for me,,,,,staying in the moment and not projecting or
regressing, I
may be wrong,,,,but I find by staying in the moment as much as
possible,,,there is nothing I need, nothing to crave, nothing
missing,
nothing to fear, nothing to gain,,,,,it just is.....and I just
am......Every moment of my life,so far, has led me here,,,,,just
to write
these words in this moment,,,It may not sound like much,,,,,,but
to
me,,,its a blessing to have the freedom of speach,the freedom to
express,,,,and the freedom to share,,,,,
And by staying in the moment -I have a tendancy to talk to
much,,,,so will
stop on this note,,,,,,
I don't give to much advise,,,,,if any---but as I said, my truths
are in
the moment,,,,,stop the search,,,,,let go of expectations,,,and
live every
moment as it happens,,whether you label it good or bad,,,,,its
all we have....
Sandeep
Hi all
Seriousness is a disease. Live Life
Quote
"G.R. Chandran" wrote:
> Subject: Boston-ISO Spiritual healing for ejaculation
control
> I am a male in my mid 30's, Vegetarian, spirtual of asian
Indian
> origin. I would like to know if anybody can help me with
> sexual healing. I am looking for info or help to devlop
control
> on my ejaculation. I am looking for spiritual healing
methods
> either Eastern (Such as Tantra), Yoga or any other western
techniques
> of sex magick (rituals).
>
> If anybody has tried any techniques or
> can offer any help in controling my sexual energies, please
let me
> know.
alrighty G.R. you asked for it pal. here it ...cums [egad].
step 1: stop touching yourself there bub... how do you want to
control your
libido's appetites if you keep teasing it.
step 2: Maybe you should treat yourself to a good ol'
cheeseburger (ummmmm)
now and again... it might sublimate your manifest desires for ...
flesh.
step 3: Ever hear of the infamous western method of taking a cold
shower?
works wonders... also known as the "Shrink-a-dink"
technique.
If all else fails, wait another 20 years or so... and I'm sure
natural
decay will eradicate the problem... (unless of course you are of
the
uberman stock, in which case why bother trying to repress
ejaculation...hell, go sell that stuff buddy.)
As for my personal approach to handling inappropriate
"rises" from Mr.
Jimmy, I treat 'em as I would a stubborn puppy... scolding:
"down boy! down!".
good luck, you lusty dog you.
from 'The Way to Go'
-Irving Layton (1984)
---------
"Envy, lust, ... rule men's lives;
lust declines
for time and use turn the love-muscle flabby
but envy takes a man right to the grave...
I pray my last days on earth be mad
with sexual desire
so that virgins scatter at my coming [*winkwinknudgenudge, mr.
Chandran]
like timorous pigeons and sparrows..."
Ritz
Montreal, PQ
Canada
boiiiiiinnnnggg...!
Unquote
Cheers
Sandeep
Harsha
All forms of
expectations hinder Self Recognition. All methods lose usefulness
after a certain point. Then how does it happen? How is it that
people who have practiced meditation for years and years and wept
their hearts out to the Divine for the Truth get even a glimpse
of Reality. How do people so attached to enlightenment get it?
They do so because of the mysterious force of Grace which is in
Reality the Self. The Grace operating in deep meditation allows
the dropping of expectations, fears and a total self surrender.
This allows for merging of the mind and "Emerging"
of the Self.
Driftwood Dave
It's a matter of becoming "aware of
your awareness" , really living or
BEing that awareness and personally I have found it more fun to
play with
it in it's various aspects than anything else I've ever run
across.
It's sorta like hearing about disneyland and you can
intentionally head for
disneyland and get there or you can wait until you run across it
in the
course of doing something else.
Of course when speaking of awareness you are *starting* from
within
disneyland...
Dear List,
I am Harvey, sometimes referred to as "Dr. H.,"
sometimes "Doc."
Sandeep sent me a message suggesting this
list. I know him from the "Bridge." I am a
beginner at meditation and T'ai Chi. I practice daily.
My home is at the base of the Organ mountains in southern New
Mexico,
USA. I am married with three grown children, three horses, three
cats,
two dogs, one goat, and a goldfish pond. I live a simple life, as
lives
go. There is little hustle and bustle of people in the desert. I
am a
practicing psychotherapist and a willing student.
I hope to join your discussion soon. As regards the above, I
wonder
what the question is...
--
Be at Peace...
Dr. H.
http://www.zencenteroflascruces.org/welcome.html
Niren
Inadequate as words may be...yours did
remind me to reflect on who is
silently present with me, and so near that even thoughts of them
seem
merely in the way, hardly necessary. It seems I first became
really
aware of this (consciously) after my father died. Somewhere
amidst the
grieving, I had a dream where I spotted him with a large crowd of
people, walking away from me. He waved and smiled, but went
on...silently telling me. "See, its just all these bodies
moving
on...that's only how you think you recognize me, my real presence
is
always with you in your heart." He actually made me laugh
tho...in my
dream. (I know what you THINK you want, but get over it!) I spent
the
next several days reflecting on how I can never really lose or
miss my
Dad, how much he just IS a part of me, however many years of
being there
for me it may have taken to establish his presence - nothing,
including
death, can remove his presence. And this may be finally realized
in an
instant of awareness.
Family is not about geography...is it? Presence is not about
words,
thoughts, feelings, moods..all THAT comes and goes. But
"what comes and
goes" is grist for the mill..it gets our attention...its a
start.. at
least its a way to approach and learn to see "I AM."
Since living with this Buddha question...and just noticing when I
feel
pressured to speak or do...I notice how most of my deepest and
tenderest
thoughts and feelings remain silent. There is no risk in speaking
out
with my sarcastic voice...( Tho I do try to include myself in the
general mockery of our foibles)...there is a silent scream
underneath
the laughing, but I exaggerate the 'silliness" in order to
minimize the
"truthfulness." Who wants to go around with some open,
bleeding heart of
vulnerability? But it is always present..silent, still present.
Who can
bear such constant intensity? Of course, seriousness and
sincerity of
purpose will get you somewhere, but lightheartedness will too. I
mean I
once had some epiphany of awareness while cleaning up vomit, and
it was
from from seeing the humor in the situation. What is to be
excluded from
this IAM presence? Well, nothing...but maybe its more in the way
you see
it or talk about it...so its the expression here on the list
which is
really a matter of concern? See, I always somehow "saw"
or felt that as
long as there was loving concern and true listening at the
"IAM
list"..it hardly mattered "what" was being
discussed..from spanking to
losing weight..it was just more grist for the mill. A bit of
silliness
is always welcome...even attacks and anger seem to have
ultimately
proved useful, if people were willing to stick around and work
with it.
So help me to understand here..this sacred space means what to
you all??
Kate Bodie
For the last two weeks I have been trying
to sort out exactly what
this list is talking about. Today I read through some of the
literature available.
I realize that the truth here is no different from the truth I
encounter everywhere. I have been looking for truth in various
presentations and with a headshake saying "almost" but
"not exactly" I
look now at what is truth and realize the absurdity!
It is the same.
It is only my mind that sees differences.
What I seek is already here.
What I see never is.